Winter Weather

Threshold for Activation - Cold Weather Emergency

The threshold for implementation of COJ Warming Centers will be met under the following conditions:

• When temperatures are expected to reach 27°F or below for two hours or more in the official National Weather Service (NWS) Jacksonville forecasts within the next 12 hours and/or the NWS issues any of the following products:
  • Hard Freeze Watch or Warning: Issued when temperatures are forecast to be 27 ℉ or below for at least two hours. 
  • Cold Weather Advisory: Issued when temperatures or wind chills forecast to be at or below 25°F.
  • Extreme Cold Watch or Warning: Issued when temperatures or wind chills forecast to be at or below 15°F.

COJ Warming Center Locations

Should the above conditions be met during the daytime from Monday to Saturday, Warming Centers will be activated at the following City of Jacksonville (COJ) facilities during their normal business hours:

• All COJ Public Libraries
• COJ Community Centers

On Sundays and holidays during the daytime:

• Main Library (303 N. Laura St.)
• Legends Center (5130 Soutel Dr.)
  • Hours of Operation: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

• Legends Center (5130 Soutel Dr.)
  • Hours of operation determined based on NWS Jacksonville forecast.

Transportation & Personal Needs

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) will provide free transportation to COJ Warming Centers on days determined to be Cold Weather Emergencies. Since the COJ Warming Centers are not a shelter resource, residents utilizing them should bring the following items:

• Air mattress, blankets, pillows, or other bedding
• Snacks and medication
• Games, toys, and books
• Hygiene, and comfort items

• Stay inside in heat during extreme cold. 
• If you have to go outside, wear layers, a hat & gloves and carry a cell phone.
• Check on neighbors, children, the elderly & chronically ill to make sure they are okay.
• Bring pets inside.​

• Stay informed about current weather conditions.
• Know the symptoms of cold-related illness. 

Know the signs of cold-related illness:

Syptoms of Hypothermia
 

Early Symptoms

• Shivering
• Fatigue/Drowsiness
• Slurred speech
• Loss of coordination
• Confusion and disorientation

Late symptoms

• Shivering stops
• Blue/Pale skin
• Slowed pulse and breathing
• Loss of consciousness

Symptoms of Frostbite: 

• Color changes (red, white, grayish/blue) to exposed skin
• Numbness
• Tingling or stinging
• Aching
• Thick or waxy feel to skin

If it's too cold for you, it's too cold for your pets

• Bring all pets inside and out from the cold temeratures.
• If you are unable to bring pets inside you must provide a shelter that protects from cold winds and rain, along with access to clean, unfrozen water.

Contrary to popular belief, pets are not insulated from the cold just because they have fur. Just as with people, prolonged exposure to cold temperatures can cause conditions such as hypothermia, frostbite and even death in animals.

Stray animals will seek warmth wherever they can find it.

• Cats left outdoors often crawl into a warm car engine to get warm.
• When that engine starts up the cat can be seriously injured or killed by the fan blade or belt.
• It’s much safer to keep your cat indoors in cold temperatures.
• Always honk your horn or tap your hood before starting your car to scare any cats from under your vehicle.
• If you have outside cats you take care of, either let them in your garage or build them a shelter with bins and boxes filled with blankets or hay.

• Keep them at least three feet away from anything that can catch fire.
• Plug heaters directly into the wall socket, and not into extension cords. 
• Check the cords on electric heaters before using. If the cord is frayed or splitting, discard the heater. 
• Any repairs to heaters should only be performed by a qualified licensed appliance repair person. 
• Keep anything that may burn at least 3 feet away from the heater. 
• Never allow children to play with, or around, the heater. 
• Never place anything inside the grill on the front of the heater.
• Unplug heater when they’re not being used. 
• Do not place anything on top of extension cords such carpets, rugs, or textiles.
• Turn them off when leaving a room or going to sleep and never leave them unattended.

• Keep flammable items, such as furniture and decor, a safe distance from the fireplace.
• NEVER leave the fireplace unattended. Ensure that it is fully extinguished before you leave or go to bed.
• Keep a watchful eye on children and pets to ensure their safety around the fireplace.
• NEVER overload the fireplace with wood, and remember to use a screen or glass doors to keep sparks from escaping.
• Use only seasoned wood, never use green wood, plastic artificial logs, paper, or trash. 
•  Make sure the chimney flue is open before the fireplace is used.
•  Clean interiors, hearths, and chimneys yearly. 
•  Have your chimney inspected by a professional at least once a year and have it cleaned if necessary. 
•  Ashes should be removed in a metal container. Never store ashes in or near your home as they may rekindle.

• Generators should be used in well ventilated locations outside away from all doors, windows, and vent openings. 
• Never use a generator in an attached garage, even with the door open. 
• Place generators so that exhaust fumes can’t enter the home through windows, doors, or other openings in the building.
• Make sure to install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in your home. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for correct placement and mounting height. 
• Turn off generators and let them cool down before refueling. Never refuel a generator while it is running. 
• Store fuel for the generator in a container intended for the purpose and is correctly labeled as such. Store the containers outside of living areas. 
• When plugging in appliances, make sure they are plugged directly into the generator or a heavy duty outdoor-rated extension cord. 
• If you must connect the generator to the house wiring to power appliances, have a qualified electrician install a properly rated transfer switch in accordance with the National Electrical Code® (NEC) and all applicable state and local electrical codes.

• Smoke alarms save lives!
  • The best level of protection is to install alarms in every bedroom and every hallway on every floor. 
  • Minimum protection installs smoke alarms outside bedrooms and on every floor. 
• DO NOT install smoke alarms in the kitchen or bathroom. 
• Test the batteries monthly. 
• Keep smoke alarms away from air vents. 
• Place smoke alarms at least 4 to 6 inches away from walls and corners.
• The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department provides and installs free smoke detectors to qualifying residents. 
• Have a fire extinguisher and know how to use it.

• Install carbon monoxide (CO) detectors near bedroom areas and family rooms, for extra protection; place one about fifteen feet away from your home’s heat source. 
• DO NOT install them near air vents or fans. 
• Test your CO Detector each week by pressing the test/silence button to make sure that the alarm sounds. 
• Keep your CO detectors dust free by vacuuming air vents regularly.

• Before you light candles put them in a non-tip candle holder. 
• Never burn candles near combustible decorations or displays. 
• Keep candles well away from curtains and other combustibles, and never put candles in windows or near exits. 
• Don't leave candles burning unattended or within the reach of small children or pets. 
• Extinguish candles before you leave a room, go to bed, or leave home. 

Leave your faucets on a slow drip.

• To help prevent frozen pipes, run a spaghetti-thin trickle of water from the one faucet farthest away from your water meter when temperatures approach 32 degrees.
• Please run just a thin trickle. If residents across the city run more than that, it can contribute to a water pressure drop.

Open your cabinet doors to expose pipes.

• As an added precaution, open any cabinet (or regular) doors that hide the pipes under your sinks.
• This allows the heat from your home to “thaw out” the pipes and prevent condensation from freezing.
• If you have pipes in an unheated part of the home like a garage, try to keep them as warm as possible. Heat tape is a great solution for situations like these.

Be prepared to turn off your water (or disconnect hoses).

• Disconnect outdoor hoses.
• Know where to find the main water shutoff to your property in case a pipe does break.
• As temperatures climb and the ice thaws, be on the lookout for leaks around your property.

Turn up the thermostat

•  Make sure you leave the heat on at all times during a extreme cold weather.

• Use a programmable thermostat to customize the temperature in your home. Set it to one temperature while you’re home and another while you’re at work, school or asleep.
• Set the thermostat at the lowest comfortable temperature (recommended setting is 60 degrees). The lower the temperature is, the slower it loses heat and the more you save on your energy bill.

Dealing with a burst pipe?

If you experience a pipe burst in your home, turn off your water and drain your plumbing.

• To do this, locate the main water line from your water meter. 
• There should be a valve where the line enters your house. Turn it off. Then run all your indoor faucets to drain water from your pipes.
• Disconnect garden hoses and hoses to your washing machine. 
• As with any leak on private property, call a plumber immediately.